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Brighton College needs no introduction – its high-achieving, forward-thinking UK sibling is one of the most sought-after schools in the country and, with a growing family of international schools scattered across the globe, it’s arguably one of the most successful education brands out there. Bursting onto the scene in 2018, its Dubai venture has quickly cemented its place as one of the most desirable schools in the city, offering the same brilliantly balanced education, knockout pastoral care and big, bold ideas as the UK original. But it’s making its own mark too – not just through academic success, but also stellar support for every member of the school community and, on campus, a visible manifestation of the school’s core values: kindness, curiosity and confidence.
Where?
Brighton College Dubai (BCD) is located in the Al Barsha South region of the city on a purpose-built campus close to several other international schools (the area is fast becoming informally known locally as ‘school’s road’). And despite the school’s central Dubai location, this is a school that feels truly, authentically British: of the 1000 pupils on the current school roll, more than 50 per cent hail from the UK, and it was rated outstanding in every category in its recent British Schools Overseas inspection. Proud of its links to Brighton College UK, there are photos of the historic British campus displayed all around this bright and modern Dubai version.
BCD’s main entrance opens into an awe-inspiring, airy atrium which, as well as being architecturally stunning, is also the heart of the school. Stairs lead up to three floors of teaching space; the well-equipped and popular library is adjacent – the librarian works hard to ensure every child finds a book they will enjoy reading – and a collaborative Jackson Pollock-style artwork to which every child contributed decorates the space. This hub is not only for children, however: a parents’ coffee shop makes this a place for everyone to gather at drop-off and pick-up – parents often leave long after the school day has finished as they and their children catch up with friends. A big Brighton crest reinforces BCD as a valued member of the wider, international Brighton College family. And with a commitment to continuous upgrading and development, next on the list is a huge theatre project.
Travel to and from the school is usually by car – although there is a bus service, it’s not used by many. The large car park and staggered pick-up/drop-off times make the school run headache-free. Those parents unable to do the run themselves use a taxi app which offers tracking and payment package options.
Head
Headmaster Simon Crane joined BCD four years ago, having previously been vice-principal at Brighton College Abu Dhabi for six years. Highly knowledgeable about the UAE educational system and the Emirati culture, he also has a thorough understanding of the Brighton College ethos. From the outset, he and his staff have been committed to instilling the core Brighton values of kindness, curiosity and confidence into every child and, as a result, he says ‘a golden thread of kindness’ runs through the school and its community. He’s friendly and approachable – as he walks around campus, he makes younger children laugh with his impromptu high-fives, and parents are delighted by his care and interest: he knows every pupil by name. Mr Crane has three young children who attend the school, and his wife also teaches here.
The senior leadership team includes staff members with extensive experience working in the UAE and at international schools. The board of governors includes the headmaster of Brighton College UK and the CEO of Brighton College International. This breadth and wealth of experience stands the school in good stead as it looks towards its future.
Admissions
BCD is a non-selective, co-educational all-through school. The school roll is currently 1,000 with 52 per cent of the pupils British; some year groups are full and the school will be at capacity when pupil numbers reach 1,200.
Open days are held twice yearly in April and November, but if these dates don’t suit then parents can pop in for one of the school’s regular open-morning sessions, held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays – the perfect chance to meet the head and have a tour of the school, followed by coffee and a chat with members of the senior leadership team. Admissions for the prep school include an assessment, which includes a writing task and CAT4 reasoning test.
Academics
The school week runs from Monday to Friday, with the day ending at noon on Friday to align with the working week in the UAE, leaving the weekends free for family time, except for occasional sporting events and fixtures. There are around 24 pupils per class, though this number reduces as the pupils progress up the school and specialist teaching increases.
BCD follows the British curriculum, and the prep school (Years 3 to 6) has a four-class entry. For these four years, pupils are based in their classes for core subjects taught by their class teacher, with specialist teachers delivering lessons in D&T, art, computing, languages, music, PE and drama. Pupils start to learn French from Year 1, and then in Years 5 and 6 they pick up German and Spanish for half the year each. The large library adjacent to the atrium is used by prep school pupils and includes additional learning space and quiet rooms, as well as a seating area to accommodate story times, visiting authors and small presentations.
BCD has a specialist, dedicated department for pupils requiring additional academic help (known as inclusion in the UAE) and one-to-one sessions take place around campus when the need arises. While the majority of the pupil body is British, the school is seeing an increase in admissions from international students and, as such, has a highly involved and active EAL department to ensure any child who needs extra help with their English language will receive personalised support. For any child who is applying, EAL testing will be included in the admissions process if required; and when the place is offered, a bespoke programme of support will be created which can include additional English lessons to get them up to speed (at an additional charge).
Co-curricular
BDC offers a vast choice of more than two hundred co-curricular activities (CCAs) which are timetabled into the school day. The clubs on offer and their timings vary according to the age and stage of the child, but can take place either before the school day, during lunchtimes, or after school. All pupils are encouraged to take at least one CCA a week but many take more. Prep school CCAs include ones as disparate as robotics, chess, eco-club, horse riding enterprise club, and cheerleading.
Sport is a huge part of everyday life at BCD with pupils of all ages expected to join in. The top-notch facilities include a large indoor sports hall, a fully equipped fitness suite, a 400-metre running track, full-size pitches, tennis and padel courts, and a stunning 25-metre indoor pool with additional learning pool. The main sports are football, cricket, rugby, netball, swimming, tennis and gymnastics. Off-site sports include rowing, sailing and golf. Pupils compete in inter-house and inter-school competitions, as well as the much-anticipated BSME (British Schools in the Middle East) fixtures which can see them travelling all over the gulf for tournaments. Swimming is a particular strength – swim squad and fun swim are two of the most popular activities – one pupil has recently qualified for the German Nationals, and a Year 6 girl is the fastest in her age category in the UAE.
Walls dotted around the campus are flooded with impressive art and photography pieces, and the whole school contributed to the eye-catching mural which hangs in the central atrium (a new piece of collaborative art – where every pupil has input – is created each academic year). A new head of art means the department continues to grow, and with D&T an increasingly popular choice for A-level, it starts as a taught subject in Year 6. There are opportunities for musicians and those keen on the performing arts to hone their skills through the CCA programme. The prep school music room is a large natural-light filled room with ceiling hangings, known fondly by the children as the ‘sunshine room’.
School community
In the pre-prep and prep school, pastoral care is provided by classroom teachers but as pupils enter senior school, this is done through the house system and the dedicated housemaster/mistress. There are four co-ed houses and four house rooms within the college that pupils can use as their common space. Daily face-to-face informal chats with teachers or the senior management team mean any parental queries are swiftly solved.
We love the sound of the prep school reward system called ‘financial literacy’. Each child adds rewards to a (metaphorical) bank account which is then used to buy and pay bills, with the idea to get them into good financial habits at a young age. Prefectship is a role eagerly wished for by the children, as those pupils holding positions of responsibility are on occasion permitted to wear the coveted Brighton academic gown.
As well as the Bright Start programme and the parents café in the atrium, parents are welcomed by an active Friends of Brighton College committee who arrange class coffees and onboarding coffee mornings for new joiners. Class reps organise class-specific evenings and events, with WhatsApp groups for purely positive interactions and necessary reminders. The school is also keen to keep the families involved – a parent council group meets with the senior leadership team each term. Those parents who relocated here with pupils in other Brighton schools say the transition between schools was seamless and they ‘didn’t look anywhere else’. Arabic lessons are offered to both parents and staff to help those relocating settle into the city. The Winter Wonderland festival celebration is the highlight of the school’s year, and parents, pupils and staff all work together to plan this glamorous and ever-growing event.
And finally....
Whether as a tiny new joiner, welcomed to the school before their year group starts, or as a leaver supported by the extensive Brighton College network of alumni, every child at BCD is a valued Brightonian. Brighton College Dubai is a corker of a school set firmly in forward motion – and we can see why it’s on the lips of every in-the-know family in the UAE.